The constant influx of reboots, remakes, updates, sequels, spin-offs, prequels and adaptations have undoubtedly begun to wear down the filmgoers of the world. How can we distinguish a by-the-numbers rehash with a fresh cinematic experience? When the lines start to blur I find it hard to care anymore.
With the latest Hollywood update of The Karate Kid, director Harald Zwart reminds us that, by making the right choices, a retread done right can emerge as the most entertaining blockbuster so far this summer, which has, in fairness, been disappointing do far.
Zwart doesn’t simply replay all of what made the original so memorable, nor does he rip out the guts and try something completely new. By keeping a similar structure, updating when necessary and covering the whole thing in a slick polish, Zwart provides viewers with a definitive example of what a remake should be.
Jaden Smith plays Dre Parker, a young boy raised by his single mother Terry, played by Taraji P. Henson. The film wastes no time, as we immediately learn that is her job is relocating her to China. Dre doesn’t like this new home very much. That is, until he gets to know Mr. Han, played by Jackie Chan.
Like the original, the underdog story is the essential plot. Dre, facing problems at school, gets beat up my schoolmates, all of it witness by the apartment handyman (Chan). And so begins his training. Despite small story touches, the entire structure of the original stays nearly the same, all the way up to the last frame.
Aside from the smartly-updated script (courtesy of Christopher Murphey), what sets it apart from other updates is the level of production value. In a brilliant move, they decide to head to China instead of California. The cinematography is gorgeous, whether it be the busy city or the desolate mountains. Both the sound team and stunt coordinator, Gang Wu, deserve credit because, for a family film, the punches have more weight than some adult action flicks. This helps the audience invest more into Dre’s situation, making it clear that when he gets knocked down he gets knocked down hard. All of this only makes the cheers louder as the story progresses.
The highlight of this film, after what feels like a thousand The Spy Next Doors over the last decade, is Jackie Chan. The action star is back, and in more ways than one. He proves he still has the action chops while, more surprisingly, providing enough dramatic weight to follow in Pat Morita‘s Miyagi footsteps. There is a specific scene involving his past that is so precisely handled, it makes you forgive everything from The Tuxedo to Rush Hour 3.
Young Smith also does a fine job as our underdog. His banter with Henson is believable and, while I didn’t fully buy his turn as Kung Fu master at film’s end it doesn’t ruin anything. He also has a perfectly-handled relationship with a girl at school, who is working towards her goal in a violin audition, another nice added element.
The Karate Kid doesn’t open any new doors in terms of story, but it does prove that by keeping it simple you can create an excellent family film. With all the cluttered story structures and reliance on CG found in blockbusters now-a-days, it is a breath of fresh air to have a film that uses old school techniques to deliver a top-tier cinematic experience.
8 out of 10
What did you think of The Karate Kid?